Insolubility from No-Signalling

Abstract

This paper improves on the result in my [1], showing that within the framework of the unitary Schroedinger equation it is impossible to reproduce the phenomenological description of quantum mechanical measurements (in particular the collapse of the state of the measured system) by assuming a suitable mixed initial state of the apparatus. The result follows directly from the no-signalling theorem applied to the entangled state of measured system and ancilla. As opposed to many other 'insolubility theorems' for the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, it focuses on the impossibility of reproducing the phenomenological collapse of the state of the measured system.

abstract = "This paper improves on the result in my [1], showing that within the framework of the unitary Schroedinger equation it is impossible to reproduce the phenomenological description of quantum mechanical measurements (in particular the collapse of the state of the measured system) by assuming a suitable mixed initial state of the apparatus. The result follows directly from the no-signalling theorem applied to the entangled state of measured system and ancilla. As opposed to many other 'insolubility theorems' for the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, it focuses on the impossibility of reproducing the phenomenological collapse of the state of the measured system.",

note = "I wish to thank audiences at Aberdeen, Berlin, Cagliari and Oxford, as well as Arthur Fine and Max Schlosshauer, who heard or read and commented on previous versions of this and connected material. I am particularly indebted to Alex Blum, Martin J{\"a}hnert and especially Christoph Lehner for discussions of Einstein{\textquoteright}s argument and of how it might relate (or not) to von Neumann{\textquoteright}s. These discussions also helped me redirect my use of the no-signalling theorem to the general case of measurements with ancillas, whether or not there is spatial separation. Finally, I wish to thank Elise Crull, my collaborator on the Leverhulme Trust Project Grant {\textquoteleft}The Einstein Paradox{\textquoteright}: The Debate on Nonlocality and Incompleteness in 1935 (project grant nr. F/00 152/AN), during the tenure of which this paper was written.",

year = "2014",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1007/s10773-013-1821-y",

language = "English",

volume = "53",

pages = "3465--3474",

journal = "International Journal of Theoretical Physics",

issn = "0020-7748",

publisher = "Springer New York",

number = "10",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Insolubility from No-Signalling

AU - Bacciagaluppi, Guido

N1 - I wish to thank audiences at Aberdeen, Berlin, Cagliari and Oxford, as well as Arthur Fine and Max Schlosshauer, who heard or read and commented on previous versions of this and connected material. I am particularly indebted to Alex Blum, Martin Jähnert and especially Christoph Lehner for discussions of Einstein’s argument and of how it might relate (or not) to von Neumann’s. These discussions also helped me redirect my use of the no-signalling theorem to the general case of measurements with ancillas, whether or not there is spatial separation. Finally, I wish to thank Elise Crull, my collaborator on the Leverhulme Trust Project Grant ‘The Einstein Paradox’: The Debate on Nonlocality and Incompleteness in 1935 (project grant nr. F/00 152/AN), during the tenure of which this paper was written.

PY - 2014/10

Y1 - 2014/10

N2 - This paper improves on the result in my [1], showing that within the framework of the unitary Schroedinger equation it is impossible to reproduce the phenomenological description of quantum mechanical measurements (in particular the collapse of the state of the measured system) by assuming a suitable mixed initial state of the apparatus. The result follows directly from the no-signalling theorem applied to the entangled state of measured system and ancilla. As opposed to many other 'insolubility theorems' for the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, it focuses on the impossibility of reproducing the phenomenological collapse of the state of the measured system.

AB - This paper improves on the result in my [1], showing that within the framework of the unitary Schroedinger equation it is impossible to reproduce the phenomenological description of quantum mechanical measurements (in particular the collapse of the state of the measured system) by assuming a suitable mixed initial state of the apparatus. The result follows directly from the no-signalling theorem applied to the entangled state of measured system and ancilla. As opposed to many other 'insolubility theorems' for the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, it focuses on the impossibility of reproducing the phenomenological collapse of the state of the measured system.